Watercolor is my passion. After teaching art in the public schools for 40 + years I now have time to create art for myself. I am a watercolorist who sometimes likes to work in mixed media as well. My journey in art began when I was a small child and continues to this day.
Barbara Hart Sailor

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Harbor in Nova Scotia

Well, I have taken a week off from painting to renew and refresh my muses. I got back to painting this weekend and finished this watercolor of a harbor in Nova Scotia. It is from a photo by photographer Garry Black (www.garryblack.com), with his permission, of course.

This painting is 9" x 12" and is painted on 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper. I am planning to use this for my intermediate watercolor class at Riverside Art Center in Wapakoneta, Ohio, which starts again next Monday evening, the 13th. I am certain they will enjoy this one.

9 comments:

Barb, I haven't had the time for over two months to keep up with anyone's work since my Tom has had a diabetic foot ulcer, infected with MRSA, and has even been hospitalized for a week. But, I have to break my silence to say this is the best treatment of water in a painting that I have ever seen! This is truly lovely and I think anyone who had the privilege to see it in person would snap it right up and hang it immediately on their wall.

The composition is so great with the angles of the shoreline and the the atmospheric perspective right on.

Susan - I am so sorry to hear of Tom's problems...my brother is recovering from his most recent surgery which was cleaning out an ulcer under his little toe. It goes from the top to the bottom of his foot. He has, in the past, had bone removed, so that there was no pressure to cause worse sores. This is an awful problem and my heart goes out to Tom, and you, his caregiver.Thank you so much for your wonderful comments on this painting. Isn't it wonderful when a painting makes you smile? Only another artist can relate to this happening, I think! I pray that Tom continues to improve - I know what a problem this can be. Keep me informed.Hugs to you both.

Hi Barb. I arrived here through the 'Next Blog' button. I love watercolour paintings and yours are lovely. I have always used a dark mix of French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna for blacks (because that's how I was taught) but it does work well in this picture.I really enjoyed your Christmas still life because of the unusual palette you have used for that subject!

Hi! Thanks, AK! That is probably because I am an art teacher!:) (And because this is just, simply, my painting style.) I have tried to loosen up, but that is just not possible...as I have said before, "I yam what I yam!" I am a successful artist and sell my work so it appeals to a segment of the population who like this type of art. I personally have work hanging in my home not at all like my style. I guess we can appreciate all types of work. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Thanks Bazza! I am happy that you arrived at my blog. I hope you come back, too!It has been my experience that black watercolor tends to be very flat, and don't usually use the tube blacks. This was an exception. I also like to mix burnt sienna and ultramarine blue for black. Another good combination is sap green, alizarin crimson and pthalo blue. Sometimes I use alizarin crimson and viridian green, too! Blacks that you mix yourself are much deeper, too.